[RP TownTalk] REMINDER: UMD Collaborative Projects Conversation: Tuesday May 15 7:30pm Riverdale Park Town Hall

[lora Katz]

REMINDER: COME THIS TUESDAY Evening May 15 at 7:30pm, Riverdale Park Town Hall,  for a conversation with the University of Maryland's Andrew Fellows (former College Park Mayor) on Campus Community Connection and the 10 Riverdale Park/University collaborative projects.

Which of the ten projects in the list below interests you?


Area A - Improving Cross-Cultural Communication and Harmony/Social Well Being



1) Food Pantries Support

Riverdale Park is interested in collaborating with the University of Maryland to provide food supplies for the hungry and low-income residents of the Town. Students could explore the economic viability of local food production (e.g., community gardens, non-profit and for-profit urban farming), food recovery, and distribution of food and money from local stakeholders. The examination of the current impact of University efforts such as the Field of Greens, the Food Recovery Network and Terps Against Hunger can be part of this effort.



2) Translation of Town’s Laws/Town Crier/website into languages spoken by RP residents

Riverdale Park is the home to many residents for whom English is not the first language. Students could explore the delivery of translation services in the most efficient way.



3) Identifying areas of cross-cultural misunderstanding and methods to mitigate those problems

In addition to improving translation services to which certainly can improve cross-cultural understanding, Riverdale Park is interested in collaborating with the University of Maryland in a review of current efforts. The first step would be the identification of what these areas are, but students could propose and/or develop a process to conduct this review, and then to reduce or eliminate areas of misunderstanding, and then to reduce the negative impact of those challenges.



4) Identify cultural/community events to foster cross-cultural communication and harmony

Related to the previous opportunity (RP A3), Riverdale Park would like to specifically explore current and potential events as a means of mitigating cross-cultural misunderstandings. Students could explore the marketing potential, local business impacts, and other social benefits of Riverdale Park events that address this opportunity.





Area B - Managing Stormwater while Improving Quality of Life



5) Projects to improve Wells Run appearance while not impacting stormwater management

(See Wells Run Project A1 in University Park). Students could also study the pipesheds of Riverdale Park (see University Park project A3, and College Park project A3)



6) Projects to restore Northeast Branch without impacting stormwater management

Including the Wells Run watershed and associated pipeshed, every drop of water that runs off into local waters drain to the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River. The Northeast Branch main stem flows through Riverdale Park in a channelized flow that was created in response to decades of flooding during the mid-20th Century.

Efforts to restore and protect the Northeast Branch must be done carefully to protect against unintended flooding consequences. New technology in water management design improve this possibility but much of the flow is from upstream, and out of the control of Riverdale Park. Students could use a business process to look at the financing of development and implementation of a watershed implementation plan that would serve as Riverdale Park’s contribution to the restoration of the Northeast Branch. Students could look at the impacts in neighboring Edmonston of the “complete street” of Decatur Street, with special focus on the economic development and job support implications of the work.



7) Identifying improvements surrounding Gosling Pond to improve it as a neighborhood amenity

The Gosling Pond is an existing feature which could be of even greater value to the community. Students could evaluate the various methods, including costs and benefits, of improving the water feature and its immediate surroundings.





Area C - Developing Sustainable and Resilient Practices



8) Making specific cost-effective suggestions for reducing waste generated by the Town

Riverdale Park is interested in reducing waste and wishes for the best ideas on specifically how to do so. Students could evaluate every method of reducing waste, including reduced consumption, increased re-use and recycling, and programs of promoting residential and commercial participation. Research could include “pay-as-you-throw,” in which users of the Town’s public works waste management move from a fixed rate to a per bag payment, greater distribution of recycling containers, and methods of promoting increases in composting or other recycling, with an analysis that develops a sense of the costs and benefits of each approach.



9) Making specific cost-effective suggestions for reducing energy use by the Town

Riverdale Park is interested in reducing its carbon footprint and energy costs and wishes for the best ideas on specifically how to do so. Research could include recommendations for an efficiency analysis of current consumption patterns, the potential for localized green energy (thereby potentially reducing the purchase of energy from the regional energy grid), and increased energy efficiency, with an analysis that develops a sense of the costs and benefits of each approach.



10) Pet Waste Project to reduce animal waste runoff contamination

Sustainable Maryland has a program designed for reducing the nitrogen load in local waterways due to animal waste from pets. Riverdale Park could benefit from such a program, and students could provide an analysis of the best way of efficiently doing so.

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